William F. Buckley Jr.

I decided while I was still in junior high school that I wanted to become a newspaper columnist.

Two writers probably had the biggest influence on that strange ambition. One of them, humorist Art Buchwald, died last winter. The other died this week. He was William F. Buckley Jr.

People who have been reading my columns for a while probably wouldn’t be so surprised at Buchwald. I’ve loved writing satirical columns ever since I gained some attention with them at my high school paper, The New Providence, N.J., Providential, and at Lehigh University’s Brown and White. These are very much in the style pioneered by Buchwald at the Washington Post.

But I suspect Buckley might surprise some readers. Even though I’m a registered Republican at present for strategic reasons, my positions mostly fall left of middle-of-the-road, and I know some conservative readers consider me something of a pinko.

For me, the fascination with Buckley never was about his politics, although I was an avowed conservative in high school, mostly because of his influence. I just found the man, and specifically his writing, to be fascinating.

Think about everything he accomplished before he died Wednesday week at age 82. Buckley was a prolific newspaper columnist. An influential TV talk show host whose eccentricities inspired some of the day’s most popular impersonators. Creator of the conservative National Review magazine. An author, not just of books about his opinions and experiences, but also spy novels and fascinating books about his travels as a transatlantic sailor. He even ran for mayor of New York.

Some of his most heartfelt positions — most notably his stubborn defense of witch-hunting Sen. Joe McCarthy — seem ludicrous and even appalling in retrospect, but his conservatism was by no means predictable. He long ago advocated the legalization of marijuana, for example. One of the platforms in his mayoral campaign was building elevated bikeways in the city.

Still, what attracted me most was his amazing wit. On TV, in his magazine, in his books and in his columns, he was a master of finding clever ways to skewer his political opponents, some of whom were his close friends behind the scenes. Right or wrong, he expressed himself with unique style.

I eventually moved on to new influences, and I haven't read anything by Buckley for years. But I suspect that somewhere in my parents’ basement — and certainly in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania libraries I frequented — are stacks of the books that showed me how far a great mind, a great wit and a great vocabulary could take you. He was one of a kind.

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Yeah, he was one of a kind. I always had to have a dictionary handy when I'd watch Firing Line.

One of the best descriptions of him I saw yesterday was "reptilian". How apt - he'd sit there , pencil in hand, sort of flicking his tongue waiting to strike.

And the encounter with Gore Vidal - you couldn't have scripted that one.

RIP

Posted By: Tom Ball | Feb 28, 2008 5:25:16 PM

I saw that. Reptilian was perfect. I remember that his classic essay about his blowup with Gore Vidal, whom he of course despised. I think they were TV commentators for the Republican convention, one of the worst pairings in history.

Posted By: bill white | Feb 28, 2008 5:32:21 PM

bill,
concerning buckley, i agree with you 100%; i found the man fascinating. and i respect a writer who often sends me to the dictionary....

Posted By: marc | Mar 1, 2008 1:12:27 PM

It's ironic that you were influenced by both Buchwald and Buckley, in that they were actually quite friendly. In fact, they had a running "competition" over the years through the pages of National Review over supposed benefits each was offered by being valued customers of a certain rental car company (I believe it was Hertz). These letters back and forth are part of Buckley's most recent book, "Cancel your own goddamn subscription", which is fantastic and I highly recommend.

Buckley and his magazine played a large role in shaping my political views, so much so that I consider myself a "Buckley conservative". He will be missed immensely.

Posted By: ken | Mar 5, 2008 11:39:53 AM

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